Nirbhaya's tale to touch Delhiites again

Like the rest of the world, acclaimed playwright Yael Farber was deeply affected by the victim of the December 16 gang rape.

The South African theatre director known for productions such as Woman in waiting, He left quietly and Mies Julie, decided to write and direct a play on the subject after actress Poorna Jagannathan contacted her on Facebook.

This series of conversations between the two led to the creation of Nirbhaya, which will be staged in the Capital on March 22-24 at the FICCI Auditorium.

A moving play about Nirbhaya's tale will make its Dehli debut

"Who knows why this woman's fate touched so many lives. What matters is that it broke the barrier of indifference and an appropriate level of righteous rage suddenly manifested on the streets of her nation and caught the attention of the world," says Yael.

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The production, presented by Teamworks Arts in India, intertwines true instances of sexual violence against some of its cast, with the fate of the December 16 victim. "Poorna asked me to come out to Mumbai to create this work."

The person playing the victim needed a delicacy and integrity and a voice from god. She never speaks - but sings softly - provoking memory, pain, and love. In Japjit, I found this unique combination," says Jagannathan.

"Like several women," she adds, "I have remained silent on the sexual violence I've been through and suddenly, I felt like my silence was part of what that dark night brought. Silence is what keeps the epidemic of sexual violence in place; silence is what creates a culture of unaccountability."

The play has received Amnesty International's Freedom of Expression Award.